Namibia: Veterans Gamble, Drink Money Away

SWAPO secretary general Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana has lashed out at some war veterans who are misusing the lump sums they have received courtesy of the taxpayer.

Speaking during Independence Day celebrations at Oshakati on Saturday, Ithana said she was disturbed to learn that some are drinking and gambling away the N$50 000 payouts.

Each registered war veteran received N$50 000 and qualifies for access to N$200 000 financing for income-generating projects.

"I have a photo, taken by a reliable person, of a veteran who used N$20 000 of his N$50 000 to buy beer and other drinks as well as braai meat for people at a cuca shop and finished the money in a day.

This person drank and became so drunk he finished N$20 000 in one day. Why?" Iivula-Ithana fumed.

She called on war veterans to be more responsible with their money as it is supposed to alleviate poverty among them.

"Remember our fellow Namibians have been sympathetic with us and have agreed that we, as war veterans, be given that money, because we suffered during the country's liberation struggle.

They felt we deserved a thank you and they don't want us to waste the money. Our fellow Namibians will be angry with us if we continue to abuse the money as we do," she said.

Veterans reportedly while their days away by drinking and playing cards at cuca shops.

Ithana appealed to the owners of such places to encourage the veterans to stop wasting their money.

She used the same platform to reject a call for a Basic Income Grant of N$100 a month, saying it will lead to laziness.

She said Government is already paying out pensions and social grants to the needy and has food-for-work projects to assist people.

"We cannot just distribute money at a free-of-charge basis. We have to educate our people to work hard for the money they are receiving," she said.

Ithana also called on the youth to attend school so that they can make Namibia a better place to live in.